Monday, March 9, 2026 – The scent of salt, sun, and freshly mown grass still lingers in the air. The Puerto Rico Open at Grand Reserve Country Club (par 72) captivated PGA Tour fans worldwide this past weekend. And we're not just talking about dreamlike backdrops, folks, but about cutthroat competition that had us all glued to our seats! Especially for us Germans, it was a ride that showed: Our golfers are seriously strong out there!
Castillo Triumphs – Icy Performance to Victory
The absolute star of the weekend? Clearly: Ricky Castillo! The man simply won the Puerto Rico Open, securing victory with an incredible total score of -17. From Round One to Four, Castillo delivered a performance that can only be described as consistent and precise: -4, -4, -4, and then another spectacular round of -5 on the final day. Anyone who performs like that isn't a flash in the pan, but a true champ. Especially his eagle on the 6th hole in Round 4 was an absolute game-changer, definitively putting him on the path to victory. He was ice-cold, that guy!
Chandler Blanchet (-16) and Blades Brown (-14) tried everything to catch Castillo, but he simply had the better finish and didn't let the triumph slip away.
Schmid and Paul: German Power in the Caribbean
Now comes the part that makes us at DELOFTED truly proud: Our German lads! Matti Schmid and Jeremy Paul have shown that they are definitely forces to be reckoned with on the PGA Tour.
Matti Schmid delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with a total score of -12 for a sensational tied 5th place! After a modest start with -1 in Round 1, he showed what he's made of in Round 2 with a -6. With four birdies on the back nine, he truly shook up the leaderboard. Round 3 with -4 was also very strong. On the final day, he did card two bogeys, but with three more birdies, he demonstrated nerves of steel and secured that Top 5 spot. Absolute class, Matti! Something really good is happening with him.
And Jeremy Paul also performed superbly! With a total score of -11, he claimed a strong tied 8th place. After a solid start with -3 in Round 1, he posted a -5 round on the tropical green in Round 2. Five birdies with no bogeys – that's pure focus, folks! Even though Rounds 3 (-2) and 4 (-1) were a bit tougher, Jeremy showed he fights to the very end with a birdie on the final hole. His consistently good play earned him this spot in the Top 10. Hats off, Jeremy!
John Daly Jr. – The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree
Naturally, we also have to take a look at the son of a legend: John Daly Jr. was also in contention and showed that the golf DNA runs in the family. With a total score of -7, he finished in a tied 37th place. Especially in Round 3, on the 11th hole, he made an eagle.
